The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-09

well known Potter plantation, was seen.
Mr. Sweat had just reached New York en-
route for Saratoga, when he read in the
newspapers a dispatch from Augusta giving
an account of the great freshet He imme-
| diately started back home, arriving here
! last Friday.
| Mr.. Sweat arrived at his residence late
last night from his place, where he had been
! hard at work endeavoring to keep out the
rushing water He stated that everything
that was possible was done to strengthen
the banks, and the fields were flooded so
ms to resist the pressure upon
them from the river and adj
dtional earth put on them, but yesterday
morning the freshet banks gave way apd
soon after it was topped by the rising flood.
ALL UNDER WATER.
The entire CROP $50 acres is under water.
Mr.. Sweat says the damage will be at
least 80 per cent. This loss is not by
the rice being washed away. but
by it being soaked with water and
thus half of the yield destroyed. The Potter
plantation comprises place on the south
side of the Savannah, and another on Ar
gyle Island. On that island are also the
plantations of Messrs. King, Hayward and
Manigaut. These, with the Drake planta-
ton, planted by Mr.. Paul Kellar, are re-
ported by Mr. Sweat to be in about the
same condition as his own. The water had
not yet overfowed the Gibbons place,
which is in charge of Mr.. Charles Sweat,
but it was expected that 1t would be under
water before this morning as the water
was still rising when Mr.. Sweat left. MIR.
Van r. Winkler's plantation is also under
water, and his loss will be heavy.
WHERE THE WATER GOES.
Mr.. Sweat said that the water passing
over the freshet banks on Argyle Island
flowed into the Back River, the water in
which is about three feet below that in the
main river, owing to the government dam
at the cross tides keeping the water back
and throwing it into the latter The
water at the Potter place is higher
than it has ever been known to be
before and the climax is not yet reached.
Nothing further can be done by the
planters and they are waiting patiently to
see the full effects of the disaster. II is one
of the worst kind that ever visited this sec
ton and tho planters will feel the loss badly
The river is rising and has tremendous
current Many evidences of the flood are
now to be seen going down stream, such as
logs, and some debris and rubbish. Ii
is expected that today large amount of
the accumulations of abe flood will pass
down, as the full force of the freshet is now
here
At the Charleston and Savannah rail
way DTluSe Une water rose y lnCn6S De-
tween O'Clock Sunday night and
noon yesterday, and was up to
within about IS inches of the stone coping
on the piers, The trestle through the
swamps on either side of the river is in
splendid order, and the roadway force on
that section were on the lookout yesterday
for drifting timbers that might lodge
against it.
DANGER OF ANOTHER FLOOD.
The rivers between Savannah and
Charleston are reported to be full, but there
is no apprehension of freshet The rains
in that section have been continuous as
they have been elsewhere, but the most of
the rivers are short and drain heavily
wooded swamps, and consequently the rain
fall does not rush rapidly into the streams.
On the Ogeechee the water is reported to
be rising very fast. Several places were re-
ported last night as being overlooked
There are about 5000 acres of rice fields in
that section, but it is said that only small
portion is threatened. Five hundred or
1000 acres may be submerged, but not more.
The river at Augusta at 2 o'clock yester-
day afternoon was "a 2-10 feet high, and
rising slowly. If another flood comes down
on the already overcrowded river it is hard
to say where the ruin will stop.
There were signs of Northeastern last
night, and if a blow should set in it would
add much to the devastation. Then there
might be some danger of the flooding of
HutchinsOn's Island, opposite the city, but
it is thought impossible without some such
Storm